Jacob's Ladder

You may have noticed that the Old Testament lessons in recent weeks have followed the story told in Genesis of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants. What I love most about Genesis is that it's more creative and bizarre than the wildest daytime soap opera. It began with the miraculous impregnation of Sarah, who gave birth to Isaac. And Isaac, in turn, had his own miracle twin babies, Jacob and Esau. This week the story picks up with Jacob, who we learned last week tricked his brother out of his inheritance, and so has to flee the area before Esau kills him (Days of Our Lives, eat your heart out!)

But it's not just drama for the sake of entertainment.  These stories have been the bedrock of Jewish (and by extension, Christian) religious life for thousands of years for more reason than that.  No, they also tell us a lot about who God is, and what our own lives are like at times.

On Sunday we'll hear the famous story of Jacob's ladder, or the dream he has of angels "ascending and descending" between heaven and earth.  And in the middle of this dream, God comes to Jacob and makes a series of promises.

"I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

Now remember, Jacob is running for his life. Esau is genuinely angry enough to kill his brother. And here, burdened by fear and uncertainty, Jacob dreams of God and the whole heavenly host. And not just that, in his dream, God promises that "I am with you and will keep you wherever you go." Amazing.

I don't know what's going on in your life right now. Maybe you're looking forward to a vacation, or a visit by family. Maybe you're basking in the beauty of summertime. Or maybe, despite the warmth and sunshine, life isn't so good. Worry and anxiety are your companions, not joy and peace.  

After Jacob dreams of God, he says, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." The hope of life with God, the hope of faith, is not that things will always be easy, or that God will necessarily fend off every illness or tragedy. But that even in our darkest times, God promises "I am with you and will keep you wherever you go," even if, like Jacob, we didn't even know it.